Nationwide Outrage Over Racist Text Messages Telling Black Americans to ‘Pick Cotton’

In a disturbing and widespread incident, numerous Black Americans across the United States have received racist text messages telling them they have been selected to ‘pick cotton’ at a plantation. The messages, which were reported in close to a dozen states, including Texas, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Ohio, have sparked widespread condemnation and an FBI investigation.

The messages, which were almost identical in wording, informed recipients that they had been selected for cotton picking and instructed them to be ready at 1:00 PM sharp with their belongings. The texts also mentioned that “executive slaves” would arrive in a brown van to collect them and warned of searches upon entering the plantation. These messages were often personalized, addressing the recipients by name, and in some cases, the senders responded to replies, further escalating the situation.

The FBI has acknowledged the messages and is working with the Justice Department and other federal authorities to address the issue. “The FBI is aware of the offensive and racist text messages sent to individuals around the country and is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter,” the agency stated.

Several schools and universities have reported that their students received these texts. For instance, students at Cy-Woods High School in Texas, Clemson University in South Carolina, the University of Alabama, and Ohio State University were among those targeted. Local law enforcement and school administrations have urged recipients to report any such messages.

The texts were sent from numbers with area codes in at least 25 different states, and some of these numbers were linked to TextNow, a service that allows users to create free phone numbers. TextNow has stated that it has shut down the accounts used to send these messages and will cooperate with authorities to prevent future incidents.

The NAACP and various state officials, including Virginia‘s Attorney General Jason Miyares, have condemned the texts. NAACP President Derrick Johnson described the messages as an “alarming increase in vile and abhorrent rhetoric” and emphasized that such actions should not be normalized.

Recipients of the messages have expressed fear and emotional distress. Many have reported feeling unsafe and confused about how their contact information was obtained. The incident has highlighted a concerning rise in racist rhetoric and has prompted calls for increased vigilance and support for those affected.